Crocodile Monitors

[DonMeyer]

I cant remember who had the pic of the Croc Monitor................but I remember them saying that it is "easy to work with."

How easy?

What are the chances of it becoming tame?

I love Croc Monitors and would love to get one. But if there is a greater chance of it becoming aggresive than tame than I won't dare.

I would probably go with a Water.

Also......I have a large downstairs to cage one. No problem there.

Also if I did get one.......it wouldn't be for a year or two. They are expensive LOL!

[DonMeyer]

Ok it was KLG haha I checked!

[Kara]

I cant remember who had the pic of the Croc Monitor................but I remember them saying that it is "easy to work with."

Ok. Let's get something straight. My comment was referring to the croc monitor in the photo - our adult male named "Papa." I never said he was easy to work with, nor did I ever say that croc monitors in general are easy to work with. I said that Papa is "fortunately a real sweetheart to work with."

Please note the word "fortunately." It took 2 years of an extremely experienced keeper - one who has kept literally thousands of animals over the span of 2 decades - working with Papa to tame him. And even though Papa is a calm, unagressive animal, that does not negate the fact that croc monitors are apex predators & sometimes prone to unpredictable behavior. Keeping them is similar to keeping huge aggressive retics or scrubs, or even venomous snakes. One must be thoroughly experienced in the nuances of varanid behavior to safely read these animals. They are not "easy" to work with by any means. These are extremely powerful creatures that can also be extremely dangerous.

A water monitor can be dangerous as well, but isn't likely to do the same amount of damage that a croc monitor would. If you're dead set on getting a bigger monitor (and *please* be fully prepared & capable to provide for it if you are) a nice, well started water or black throat monitor would be a much better choice. We have some huge black throats that are a joy to work with, and if you look hard you can find nice CBB babies that will make your experience that much better.

Just my $.02

K

[The_Godfather]

*Salutes Kara*

[gozetec02]

I would never keep an animal like that. I like my fingers and toes just where they are.

[DonMeyer]

Thanks for the info Kara!

Truthfully I do not feel that I am ready for a large monitor such as that. My Savs are just fine for now. But if I do want another I think I will look into the Black Throats.